Fence erecting assembly

ABSTRACT

A fence erecting assembly for anchoring a stretched fence includes a pair of posts that can each be driven into ground. A pair of lower sleeves is each slidable over a respective one of the posts and a pair of tubes is each coupled to a respective one of the lower sleeves. A pair of upper sleeves is each slidable over a respective one of the posts. A pair of support rods is each insertable through a respective one of the tubes such that each of the support rods is oriented to extend diagonally between the posts. A connection point on each of the support rods is attachable to a mounting tab on a respective one of the upper sleeves thereby inhibiting the pair of posts from tipping toward or away from each other. In this way the pair of posts can serve as an anchor point for a stretched fence.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to fence devices and more particularly pertainsto a new fence device for anchoring a stretched fence. The deviceincludes a pair of posts which are sunk into the ground, a pair of uppersleeves which are positionable around the posts and a pair of lowersleeves which are positionable around the posts. A pair of support rodsis attachable between respective upper and lower sleeves to extenddiagonally between the posts. Additionally, a central member isattachable to the upper sleeves to extend horizontally between theposts. In this way the posts are inhibited from tipping toward or awayfrom each other for anchoring a stretched fence.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to fence devices including a fence anchor thatincludes a pair of posts, a pair of diagonal support and a horizontalsupport. Each of the diagonal supports and the horizontal supportincludes loops that extend around a respective post for securing theposts. The prior art discloses a variety of fence anchors that include avertical member and an angled member that extends diagonally between thevertical member and the ground for inhibiting the vertical member fromtipping. The prior art discloses a variety of fence anchors that includea pair of posts, a single diagonal support and a pair of horizontalsupports that are each attached between the posts. The prior artdiscloses a fence post device that includes a plurality of angledmembers that are pivotally coupled to the fence post for extendingdiagonally between the fence post and the ground.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a pair of posts that can each be driven intoground. A pair of lower sleeves is each slidable over a respective oneof the posts and a pair of tubes is each coupled to a respective one ofthe lower sleeves. A pair of upper sleeves is each slidable over arespective one of the posts. A pair of support rods is each insertablethrough a respective one of the tubes such that each of the support rodsis oriented to extend diagonally between the posts. A connection pointon each of the support rods is attachable to a mounting tab on arespective one of the upper sleeves thereby inhibiting the pair of postsfrom tipping toward or away from each other. In this way the pair ofposts can serve as an anchor point for a stretched fence.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective in-use view of a fence erecting assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detail view taken from circle 2 of FIG. 1 of an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detail view taken from circle 4 of FIG. 1 of an embodimentof the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through4 thereof, a new fence device embodying the principles and concepts ofan embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 , the fence erecting assembly10 generally comprises a pair of posts 12 that can each be driven intoground 14 having the posts 12 being vertically oriented. Each of theposts 12 has a lower end 16, an upper end 18 and an outer surface 20extending between the upper end 18 and the lower end 16, and each of theposts 12 may have a length of at least 5.0 feet. A pair of lower sleeves22 is provided and each of the lower sleeves 22 is slidable over arespective one of the posts 12 having each of the lower sleeves 22 beingpositioned adjacent to the lower end 16 of the respective post 12.

Each of the lower sleeves 22 has an outside surface 24, an insidesurface 26, a first end 27 and a second end 28. Additionally, each ofthe lower sleeves 22 has a hole 30 extending through the outside surface24 and the inside surface 26. Each of the lower sleeves 22 has a nut 32that is bonded to the outside surface 24 and the nut 32 is aligned withthe hole 30. The nut 32 may be a threaded fastener commonly used withthreaded bolts.

A pair of tubes 34 is provided and each of the tubes 34 is coupled to arespective one of the lower sleeves 22. Each of the tubes 34 is orientedat an angle on the respective lower sleeve 22. In this way each of thetubes 34 is directed toward the upper end 18 of an opposite one of theposts 12 with respect to the post 12 on which the respective lowersleeve 22 is positioned. Each of the tubes 34 has a front wall 36 and aback wall 38, and the back wall 38 is bonded to the outside surface 24of the respective lower sleeve 22. Each of the tubes 34 is oriented toextend diagonally between the first end 27 and the second end 28 of therespective lower sleeve 22. Furthermore, the front wall 36 of each ofthe tubes 34 has a hole 40 extending through the front wall 36. Each ofthe tubes 34 has a nut 41 that is bonded to an outer surface 42 of thefront wall 36 and the nut 41 on the front wall 36 is aligned with thehole 40 in the front wall 36. Additionally, each of the tubes 34 mayhave a rectangular cross section.

A pair of upper sleeves 44 is provided and each of the upper sleeves 44is slidable over a respective one of the posts 12 having each of theupper sleeves 44 being positioned adjacent to the upper end 18 of therespective post 12. Each of the upper sleeves 44 has a mounting tab 46extending away from a respective upper sleeve 44, and each of the uppersleeves 44 has an outer surface 48 and an inner surface 50. Each of theupper sleeves 44 has a hole 52 extending through the outer surface 48and the inner surface 50 of the upper sleeve 44. Additionally, each ofthe upper sleeves 44 has a nut 54 that is bonded to the outer surface 48of the upper sleeve 44. The nut 54 on each of the upper sleeves 44 isaligned with the hole 52 in the upper sleeves 44. Furthermore, themounting tab 46 on each of the upper sleeves 44 extends away from theouter surface 48 of the upper sleeves 44, and the mounting tab 46 has anopening 56 extending through the mounting tab 46.

A pair of support rods 58 is provided and each of the support rods 58 isinsertable through a respective one of the tubes 34 when the lowersleeves 22 are positioned around the posts 12. In this way each of thesupport rods 58 is oriented to extend diagonally between the posts 12.Each of the support rods 58 has a connection point 60 that is integratedinto the support rods 58. The connection point 60 on each of the supportrods 58 is attachable to the mounting tab 46 on a respective one of theupper sleeves 44 when the respective upper sleeve 44 is positioned onthe respective post 12. In this way the pair of posts 12 is inhibitedfrom tipping toward or away from each other thereby facilitating thepair of posts 12 to be an anchor point for a stretched fence. Thestretched fence may be a barbed wire fence, a wire fence or any othertype of stretched fence.

Each of the support rods 58 has a primary end 62, a secondary end 64 andan exterior surface 66 extending between the primary end 62 and thesecondary end 64. The secondary end 64 of each of the support rods 58 isinsertable through a respective one of the tubes 34. Each of the supportrods 58 has a first coupling tab 68 that extends away from the exteriorsurface 66 to define the connection point 60 on the support rods 58. Thefirst coupling tab 68 is positioned adjacent to the primary end 62.

Each of the support rods 58 is oriented in the respective tube 34 suchthat the first coupling tab 68 on each of the support rods 58 isdirected upwardly on the support rod 58. The first coupling tab 68 oneach of the support rods 58 has an opening 70 extending through thefirst coupling tab 68. The opening 70 in the first coupling tab 68 isaligned with the opening 56 in the mounting tab 46 when the support rods58 are inserted into the tubes 34. Additionally, each of the supportrods 58 may have a rectangular cross section that corresponds to therectangular cross section of the tubes 34. In this way the support rods58 may be inhibited from rotating in the tubes 34.

A central member 72 is provided that has a pair of connection points 74each being disposed on opposite ends of the central member 72. Each ofthe connection points 74 on the central member 72 engages the mountingtab 46 on a respective one of the upper sleeves 44 when the uppersleeves 44 are positioned around the posts 12. In this way the centralmember 72 inhibits the posts 12 from tipping toward or away from eachother. The central member 72 has a first end 76 and a second end 78, andthe central member 72 has a pair of second coupling tabs 80 that is eachcoupled to and extends away from a respective one of the first end 76and the second end 78 of the central member 72. Each of the secondcoupling tabs 80 has an opening 82 extending through the second couplingtabs 80. The opening 82 in each of the second coupling tabs 80 isaligned with the opening 56 in the mounting tab 46 on the respectiveupper sleeve 44.

A plurality of bolts 84 is provided and each of the bolts 84 isthreadable into the nut 32 on a respective one of the lower sleeves 22,the nut 54 on a respective one of the upper sleeves 44 and the nut 41 ona respective one of the tubes 34. Each of the bolts 84 is tightenable toengage a respective one of the posts 12 or a respective one of thesupport rods 58. In this way the upper sleeves 44 and the lower sleeves22 can be retained at a selected point along the respective post 12.Additionally, each of the support rods 58 can be retained to extend aselected distance outwardly from the respective tube 34. Each of thebolts 84 may comprise a threaded hex bolt or other similar type of bolt.

In use, each of the posts 12 is driven into the ground 14 such that theposts 12 are spaced a pre-determined distance apart from each other. Theposts 12 may be located on level ground or the posts 12 may be locatedon an incline. Each of the lower sleeves 22 is positioned around arespective post 12 and each of the upper sleeves 44 is positioned arounda respective post 12. Additionally, each of the upper sleeves 44 andeach of the lower sleeves 22 are secured at a selected height on therespective post 12. Each of the support rods 58 is inserted into therespective tube 34 and the first coupling tab 68 on each of the supportrods 58 is engaged to the mounting tab 46 on the respective upper sleeve44. Additionally, each of the second coupling tabs 80 on the centralmember 72 is engaged to the mounting tab 46 on the respective uppersleeve 44. In this way the posts 12 are inhibited from tipping toward oraway from each other thereby facilitating the posts 12 to serve as ananchor point for the stretched fence.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

I claim:
 1. A fence erecting assembly for establishing an anchor pointfor a fence line, said assembly comprising: a pair of posts each beingconfigured to be driven into ground having said posts being verticallyoriented; a pair of lower sleeves, each of said lower sleeves beingslidable over a respective one of said posts; a pair of tubes, each ofsaid tubes being coupled to a respective one of said lower sleeves, eachof said tubes being oriented at an angle on said respective lower sleevesuch that each of said tubes is directed toward said upper end of anopposite one of said posts with respect to said post on which saidrespective lower sleeve is positioned; a pair of upper sleeves, each ofsaid upper sleeves being slidable over a respective one of said posts,each of said upper sleeves having a mounting tab extending away from arespective upper sleeve; a pair of support rods, each of said supportrods being insertable through a respective one of said tubes when saidlower sleeves are positioned around said posts such that each of saidsupport rods is oriented to extend diagonally between said posts, eachof said support rods having a connection point being integrated intosaid support rods, said connection point on each of said support rodsbeing attachable to said mounting tab on a respective one of said uppersleeves when said respective upper sleeve is positioned on saidrespective post thereby inhibiting said pair of posts from tippingtoward or away from each other wherein said pair of posts are configuredto be an anchor point for a stretched fence; and a central member havinga pair of connection points each being disposed on opposite ends of saidcentral member, each of said connection points on said central memberengaging said mounting tab on a respective one of said upper sleeveswhen said upper sleeves are positioned around said posts such that saidcentral member inhibits said posts from tipping toward or away from eachother.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: each of said postshas a lower end, an upper end and an outer surface extending betweensaid upper end and said lower end; each of said lower sleeves has anoutside surface, an inside surface, a first end and a second end, eachof said lower sleeves having a hole extending through said outsidesurface and said inside surface, each of said lower sleeves having a nutbeing bonded to said outside surface, said nut being aligned with saidhole, each of said lower sleeves being positioned adjacent to said lowerend of said respective post; and each of said upper sleeves has an outersurface and an inner surface, each of said upper sleeves having a holeextending through said outer surface and said inner surface of saidupper sleeve, each of said upper sleeves having a nut being bonded tosaid outer surface of said upper sleeve, said nut on each of said uppersleeves being aligned with said hole in said upper sleeves, saidmounting tab on each of said upper sleeves extending away from saidouter surface of said upper sleeves, said mounting tab having an openingextending through said mounting tab, each of said upper sleeves beingpositioned adjacent to said upper end of said respective post.
 3. Theassembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said tubes has a frontwall and a back wall, said back wall being bonded to said outsidesurface of said respective lower sleeve, each of said tubes beingoriented to extend diagonally between said first end and said second endof said respective lower sleeve, said front wall of each of said tubeshaving a hole extending through said front wall, each of said tubeshaving a nut being bonded to an outer surface of said front wall, saidnut on said front wall being aligned with said hole in said front wall.4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said support rodshas a primary end, a secondary end and an exterior surface extendingbetween said primary end and said secondary end, said secondary end ofeach of said support rods being insertable through a respective one ofsaid tubes, each of said support rods having a first coupling tabextending away from said exterior surface to define said connectionpoint on said support rods, said first coupling tab being positionedadjacent to said primary end, each of said support rods being orientedin said respective tube such that said first coupling tab on each ofsaid support rods is directed upwardly on said support rod, said firstcoupling tab on each of said support rods having an opening extendingthrough said first coupling tab, said opening in said first coupling tabbeing aligned with an opening in said mounting tab when said supportrods are inserted into said tubes.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1,wherein: each of said support rods has a first coupling tab; and saidcentral member has a first end and a second end, said central memberhaving a pair of second coupling tabs each being coupled to andextending away from a respective one of said first end and said secondend of said central member, each of said second coupling tabs having anopening extending through said second coupling tabs, said opening ineach of said second coupling tabs being aligned with said opening insaid mounting tab on said respective upper sleeve.
 6. The assemblyaccording to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bolts, each ofsaid bolts being threadable into a nut on a respective one of said lowersleeves, a nut on a respective one of said upper sleeves and a nut on arespective one of said tubes, each of said bolts being tightenable toengage a respective one of said posts or a respective one of saidsupport rods.
 7. A fence erecting assembly for establishing an anchorpoint for a fence line, said assembly comprising: a pair of posts eachbeing configured to be driven into ground having said posts beingvertically oriented, each of said posts having a lower end, an upper endand an outer surface extending between said upper end and said lowerend; a pair of lower sleeves, each of said lower sleeves being slidableover a respective one of said posts having each of said lower sleevesbeing positioned adjacent to said lower end of said respective post,each of said lower sleeves having an outside surface, an inside surface,a first end and a second end, each of said lower sleeves having a holeextending through said outside surface and said inside surface, each ofsaid lower sleeves having a nut being bonded to said outside surface,said nut being aligned with said hole; a pair of tubes, each of saidtubes being coupled to a respective one of said lower sleeves, each ofsaid tubes being oriented at an angle on said respective lower sleevesuch that each of said tubes is directed toward said upper end of anopposite one of said posts with respect to said post on which saidrespective lower sleeve is positioned, each of said tubes having a frontwall and a back wall, said back wall being bonded to said outsidesurface of said respective lower sleeve, each of said tubes beingoriented to extend diagonally between said first end and said second endof said respective lower sleeve, said front wall of each of said tubeshaving a hole extending through said front wall, each of said tubeshaving a nut being bonded to an outer surface of said front wall, saidnut on said front wall being aligned with said hole in said front wall;a pair of upper sleeves, each of said upper sleeves being slidable overa respective one of said posts having each of said upper sleeves beingpositioned adjacent to said upper end of said respective post, each ofsaid upper sleeves having a mounting tab extending away from arespective upper sleeve, each of said upper sleeves having an outersurface and an inner surface, each of said upper sleeves having a holeextending through said outer surface and said inner surface of saidupper sleeve, each of said upper sleeves having a nut being bonded tosaid outer surface of said upper sleeve, said nut on each of said uppersleeves being aligned with said hole in said upper sleeves, saidmounting tab on each of said upper sleeves extending away from saidouter surface of said upper sleeves, said mounting tab having an openingextending through said mounting tab; a pair of support rods, each ofsaid support rods being insertable through a respective one of saidtubes when said lower sleeves are positioned around said posts such thateach of said support rods is oriented to extend diagonally between saidposts, each of said support rods having a connection point beingintegrated into said support rods, said connection point on each of saidsupport rods being attachable to said mounting tab on a respective oneof said upper sleeves when said respective upper sleeve is positioned onsaid respective post thereby inhibiting said pair of posts from tippingtoward or away from each other wherein said pair of posts are configuredto be an anchor point for a stretched fence, each of said support rodshaving a primary end, a secondary end and an exterior surface extendingbetween said primary end and said secondary end, said secondary end ofeach of said support rods being insertable through a respective one ofsaid tubes, each of said support rods having a first coupling tabextending away from said exterior surface to define said connectionpoint on said support rods, said first coupling tab being positionedadjacent to said primary end, each of said support rods being orientedin said respective tube such that said first coupling tab on each ofsaid support rods is directed upwardly on said support rod, said firstcoupling tab on each of said support rods having an opening extendingthrough said first coupling tab, said opening in said first coupling tabbeing aligned with said opening in said mounting tab when said supportrods are inserted into said tubes; a central member having a pair ofconnection points each being disposed on opposite ends of said centralmember, each of said connection points on said central member engagingsaid mounting tab on a respective one of said upper sleeves when saidupper sleeves are positioned around said posts such that said centralmember inhibits said posts from tipping toward or away from each other,said central member having a first end and a second end, said centralmember having a pair of second coupling tabs each being coupled to andextending away from a respective one of said first end and said secondend of said central member, each of said second coupling tabs having anopening extending through said second coupling tabs, said opening ineach of said second coupling tabs being aligned with said opening insaid mounting tab on said respective upper sleeve; and a plurality ofbolts, each of said bolts being threadable into said nut on a respectiveone of said lower sleeves, said nut on a respective one of said uppersleeves and said nut on a respective one of said tubes, each of saidbolts being tightenable to engage a respective one of said posts or arespective one of said support rods.